Dirigible, especially non-rigid dirigible

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dirigible, especially a non-rigid dirigible, wherein the body of the dirigible has at its bow section and at its stern section cells pressurized under a higher pressure than the maximum dynamic pressure produced at the bow under flight conditions, whereby the body of said dirigible in the region of the pressure transition circular lines is subdivided by partitions forming said cells, which partitions are adapted to receive pressure without any substantial deformation.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A non-rigid dirigible comprising: a non-rigid inflatable body member having a bow section and a stern section;   partition means secured to the body member so as to define gas cells in each section which can be pressurized to a higher pressure than the maximum dynamic pressure produced at the bow and the stern sections under flight conditions, the exterior of the body member being inherently subjected under flight conditions to a pressure zone at the bow and the stern portions and to a suction zone intermediate the pressure zones with a pressure transition zone between each pressure zone and the suction zone, the partition means being disposed at each pressure transition zone, at least one of the partition means further comprising an annular tubular ring member engaging the inner wall of the body member and bulkhead means adapted to be loaded by tension and in engagement with the ring member.   
     
     
       2. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 1 wherein the bulkhead means comprises a single wall secured to the ring member. 
     
     
       3. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 1, including means communicating the interior space of the cell in the bow section with the exterior of the body member so as to pressurize the cell in the bow section during flight. 
     
     
       4. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 1 wherein the ring member is non-rigid, inflatable and sealingly engages the inner wall of the body member when inflated. 
     
     
       5. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the partition means is secured to a keel cockpit under the body member. 
     
     
       6. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the cells formed in the bow and stern sections is further divided into two compartments by a wall member, whereby one of the compartments acts as a compensation container for a protective gas within an envelop formed by a double wall of the body member. 
     
     
       7. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 1, including wall means dividing the interior space of the body member into at least two compartments, the wall means comprising at least one wall structure having an annular tubular reinforcing ring member and gas-tight, closed, diaphragm-shaped walls adapted to be exvaginated into a longitudinal direction, the walls defining between them a further compartment which communicates with a device for supplying steam into the further compartment. 
     
     
       8. A non-rigid dirigible comprising: a non-rigid inflatable body member having a bow section and a stern section; partition means secured to the body member so as to define gas cells in each section wich can be pressurized to a higher pressure than the maximum dynamic pressure produced at the bow and the stern sections under flight conditions, said partition means further defining a mid portion in said body member between said bow and stern sections which can be pressurized to a lower pressure than said cells, the exterior of the body member being inherently subjected under flight conditions to a pressure zone at the bow and the stern portions and to a suction zone intermediate the pressure zones with a pressure transition zone between each pressure zone and the suction zone, the partition means being disposed at each pressure transition zone, at least one of the partition means further comprising rigid frame member engaging the inner wall of the body member and flexible bulkhead means adapted to be loaded by tension and in engagement with the frame member, and wall means dividing the interior space of the body member into at least two compartments, the wall means comprising at least one wall structure having an annular tubular reinforcing ring member and gas-tight, closed, diaphragm-shaped walls adapted to be exvaginated in a longitudinal direction, the walls defining between them a further compartment which commmunicates with a device for supplying steam into the further compartment. 
     
     
       9. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 8 wherein the bulkhead means comprises a single wall secured to the frame member. 
     
     
       10. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 8, including means communicating the interior space of the cell in the bow section with the exterior of the body member so as to pressurize the cell in the bow section during flight. 
     
     
       11. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of the partition means is secured to a keel cockpit under the body member. 
     
     
       12. A non-rigid dirigible as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of the cells formed in the bow and stern sections is further divided into two compartments by a wall member, whereby one of the compartments acts as a compensation container for a protective gas within an envelope formed by a double wall of the body member.